Chapter 10: Someone Is Watching Me

The gunshot was still echoing through Seraphine's mind when Adrian dragged her into the nearest room and locked the door.

“Stay here.”

He moved toward the windows.

Seraphine grabbed his arm.

“No.”

Adrian turned.

His eyes were dark with anger.

“Seraphine, someone just fired a gun inside this house.”

“And you're going out there?”

“I need to know who it was.”

“You'll get yourself killed.”

For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

Then Adrian's expression softened.

“You're worried about me.”

Seraphine immediately released his arm.

“Don't flatter yourself.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“Even now?”

“Especially now.”

Another sound came from the hallway.

Both of them froze.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Measured.

Coming toward the door.

Adrian pulled Seraphine behind him.

His body became a shield.

The footsteps stopped.

Nothing happened.

Then a shadow moved beneath the door.

Seraphine held her breath.

The handle slowly turned.

Adrian reached for the weapon hidden beneath his jacket.

The door suddenly opened.

A security guard stood outside.

“Mr. Kingsley!”

Adrian lowered his weapon.

“What happened?”

“We found someone near the east entrance.”

“Who?”

“He escaped.”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“Did you see his face?”

“No.”

“Then find him.”

The guard nodded and disappeared.

Adrian shut the door again.

Seraphine leaned against the wall.

Her heart was racing.

“He knew I was investigating.”

Adrian looked at her.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“I don't know.”

“You do know something.”

“Seraphine…”

“Damon knew about the archive. He knew about the Black Circle. He knew I was looking for the ledger.”

Adrian remained silent.

She stepped closer.

“Someone has been watching me.”

“I believe you.”

That answer stopped her.

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because this morning, one of my security teams found a hidden camera outside your mother's old house.”

Seraphine's stomach dropped.

“You didn't tell me.”

“I was going to.”

“When?”

“When I knew who installed it.”

She shook her head.

“This is exactly the problem with you.”

“What?”

“You keep deciding what I should know.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“I am trying to keep you alive.”

“And I'm trying to find out why my mother died.”

“You could get yourself killed.”

“So could you.”

Silence.

Adrian stepped closer.

Their faces were inches apart.

“I can protect myself.”

“And who protects me?”

His eyes held hers.

“I do.”

The words were so quiet that they hurt.

Seraphine looked away first.

She hated the effect he had on her.

She hated how safe she felt when he stood close.

Most of all, she hated that a part of her wanted to believe him.

Her phone vibrated.

She pulled it out.

One message.

Beautiful dress tonight.

Seraphine's blood ran cold.

She hadn't told anyone what she was wearing.

Another message appeared.

You looked frightened when the lights went out.

Her fingers went numb.

Adrian noticed her expression.

“What is it?”

She handed him the phone.

His face changed.

“That's impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because this message was sent from inside the mansion.”

Seraphine looked around.

Someone had been watching them.

Not from outside.

Inside.

Adrian immediately called security.

“Lock down the entire property.”

A voice answered.

“Yes, sir.”

“No one leaves.”

He ended the call.

Seraphine's phone vibrated again.

She looked down.

Check the mirror.

She slowly raised her eyes.

Across the room stood a large antique mirror.

Her reflection stared back.

Adrian stood behind her.

Nothing else.

Then she noticed something.

A tiny red light.

Blinking.

Behind the mirror.

“Adrian.”

He followed her gaze.

He crossed the room and pulled the mirror away from the wall.

A miniature camera was hidden inside.

Seraphine's stomach twisted.

Someone had been watching them.

Watching her.

For how long?

Adrian removed the device.

“Don't touch it.”

Too late.

Seraphine had already noticed something attached beneath it.

A small black envelope.

Her name was written across the front.

SERAPHINE.

She stared at it.

Adrian took the envelope.

“I'll open it.”

“No.”

“Seraphine.”

“If it's meant for me, I'll read it.”

He hesitated.

Then handed it over.

She opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

Her mother's face stared back at her.

Seraphine's heart broke.

The photograph had been taken shortly before her mother's death.

But someone had circled a man standing behind her.

Damon.

On the back was a handwritten message.

Your mother discovered the truth.

Seraphine's breathing became shallow.

Another line followed.

Now you have discovered it too.

She turned the photograph over.

At the bottom was one final sentence.

Ask yourself why Damon has been protecting you instead of killing you.

Seraphine looked at Adrian.

“What does that mean?”

“I don't know.”

She studied his face.

Then she noticed something.

A small mark on the photograph.

The same silver serpent symbol from Damon's ring.

Her eyes widened.

“This isn't just a warning.”

Adrian frowned.

“What?”

“It's a message from someone who knows exactly what Damon is doing.”

She looked toward the door.

“And they want me to investigate him.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“Or they want you to believe Damon is guilty.”

Seraphine shook her head.

“Either way, someone is playing us.”

Her phone vibrated again.

This time, it wasn't a text.

It was an incoming call.

Unknown number.

Adrian immediately reached for it.

Seraphine stopped him.

“I'll answer.”

“Don't.”

“What if it's the person who sent the messages?”

“That's exactly why you shouldn't.”

She looked into his eyes.

“Then stay beside me.”

Something changed in Adrian's expression.

He nodded.

“Always.”

Seraphine answered.

“Hello?”

Silence.

Then a woman's voice whispered,

“You're asking the wrong questions.”

Seraphine's pulse jumped.

“Who are you?”

“You want to know what happened to your mother.”

“Yes.”

“Then stop looking at Damon.”

Seraphine frowned.

“Why?”

“Because Damon isn't the man you should fear.”

“Who should I fear?”

The woman breathed softly.

“Your mother's killer.”

Seraphine's grip tightened around the phone.

“Who is it?”

A pause.

Then the woman whispered,

“Someone you see every day.”

The call ended.

Seraphine stared at the screen.

Adrian watched her.

“What did she say?”

Before she could answer, a loud crash came from downstairs.

Security shouted.

Then another gunshot.

Adrian grabbed Seraphine's hand.

“Stay with me.”

They rushed into the hallway.

At the end of the corridor, a security guard lay unconscious.

Beside him was a black rose.

Seraphine stopped.

Her blood turned cold.

Her mother had always hated black roses.

She had once told Seraphine they represented promises made by people who intended to keep them.

Adrian picked up the rose.

Something was attached to the stem.

A tiny piece of paper.

He unfolded it.

His face became expressionless.

“What does it say?” Seraphine asked.

He looked at her.

“It says…”

He hesitated.

Then handed it to her.

Seraphine read the words.

I CAN SEE YOU.

Her heart stopped.

Then another line appeared beneath it.

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU SINCE THE DAY YOU OPENED YOUR MOTHER'S DRAWER.

Seraphine slowly looked toward the dark staircase.

Someone had been watching her from the beginning.

And whoever it was already knew every move she planned to make.

But the final message was the one that terrified her most.

Tomorrow, I will show you what your mother died protecting.